Fortnightly - PHG Energyhttp://www.fortnightly.com/tags/phg-energy
enDigesthttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2014/02/digest
<div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - February 2014</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1402-DIG-ABB-microgrid-Faial.jpg" width="1386" height="826" alt="ABB commissioned a microgrid control system on the Atlantic island of Faial." title="ABB commissioned a microgrid control system on the Atlantic island of Faial." /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1402-DIG-IKEA-Blink.jpg" width="1252" height="821" alt="IKEA installed Blink EV charging stations at its Dallas-area store." title="IKEA installed Blink EV charging stations at its Dallas-area store." /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1402-DIG-Vestas-turbine.jpg" width="1500" height="1072" alt="EdF ordered 220 MW of Vestas 2-MW wind turbines for a pair of projects in the Texas Panhandle." title="EdF ordered 220 MW of Vestas 2-MW wind turbines for a pair of projects in the Texas Panhandle." /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1402-DIG-spinningspirwindproject.jpg" width="991" height="696" alt="UBS agreed to buy a 50-percent interest in EdF’s Spinning Spur II wind project in Texas." title="UBS agreed to buy a 50-percent interest in EdF’s Spinning Spur II wind project in Texas." /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1402-DIG-PresqueIslePowerPlant.jpg" width="507" height="401" alt="We Energies and Wolverine Power Coop ended plans to jointly own and upgrade the Presque Isle power plant." title="We Energies and Wolverine Power Coop ended plans to jointly own and upgrade the Presque Isle power plant." /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h4>Distributed Energy Resources</h4>
<p><b>ABB</b> delivered and commissioned a microgrid control system that enables the Portuguese island of Faial in the Atlantic Ocean to add more wind energy to its power mix without destabilizing the network. The island of 15,000 inhabitants has an electricity network that operates as a self-contained microgrid, powered by six oil-fired generators producing up to 17 MW of power. The control system will calculate the most economical configuration, ensure balance between supply and demand, maximize the integration of wind energy, and optimize the generators so the entire system performs at peak potential. </p>
<p><b>IKEA</b> installed three Blink EV charging stations at its Dallas-area store as part of its partnership with <b>Car Charging Group</b>, the new owner of the Blink Network and Blink charging stations. This initiative represents the 10th such project for IKEA in the United States, with installation underway at seven other locations. When completed, the units currently planned will bring to 55 the total number of Blink charging stations at IKEA locations.</p>
<h4>Generation</h4>
<p><b>Siemens Energy</b> received an order from <b>Panda Power Funds</b> to supply two generating units with H-class gas turbines for the 829-MW Patriot combined-cycle power plant (CCPP) in Clinton Township, Penn. Siemens will provide two SGT6-8000H gas turbines, steam turbines, hydrogen-cooled generators, and heat recovery steam generators, along with instrumentation and control systems. In addition, Siemens will provide long-term maintenance and service for the gas turbine major components. </p>
<p><b>Wood Group GTS</b> was awarded a six-year contract to provide maintenance services for a GE Frame 7EA gas turbine at an unnamed manufacturing facility in Texas. The contract includes all major maintenance services, including parts, repairs, and field services, as well as monitoring and diagnostics technology. The customer’s accelerated process required Wood Group to install systems before the next scheduled turbine inspection in spring 2014. </p>
<p><b>First Wind</b> reached an agreement with <b>Burlington (Vt.) Electric Department</b> (BED) to sell the power generated from the planned 54-MW Hancock wind project near Ellsworth, Maine. First Wind will sell 25 percent of the power and renewable energy certificates (REC) generated for the next 10 years under a fixed-price agreement. When built, the Hancock project will include 18 turbines with a capacity of 3 MW each, located near the operating 34-MW Bull Hill wind project in Hancock County, Maine, which began operations in November 2012. </p>
<p><b>SunEdison</b> plans to build a PV project in partnership with New York City, with groundbreaking expected in the second half of 2015. The project will consist of two PV systems totaling up to 10 MW in size, on 47 leased acres at the 2,200-acre Freshkills Park reclaimed landfill site.</p>
<p><b>EdF Renewable Energy</b> ordered 220 MW of V100-2.0 MW wind turbine generators from Vestas. The order is part of the master supply agreement announced in September 2013, for two projects totaling 300 MW in the Texas Panhandle: Hereford 1 and Longhorn North. Deliveries and commissioning of both projects are expected in the second half of 2014. </p>
<p><b>Renewable Energy Systems Canada</b> (RES Canada) plans to build two 10-MW solar PV facilities for <b>Canadian Solar Solutions</b> (Canadian Solar). The Mighty Solar and Taylor Kidd projects qualify for the province’s FiT (feed-in-tariff) program and are scheduled for completion in 2014. <b>Ontario Power Authority</b> will buy the output under a 20-year contract.</p>
<p><b>MidAmerican Energy</b> ordered 448 wind turbines from <b>Siemens</b> totaling 1,050 MW. The wind turbines, each with a nominal rating of 2.3 MW and a rotor diameter of 108 meters, are expected to be installed in five different projects in Iowa. Siemens will also be responsible for service and maintenance of the wind turbines.</p>
<p>The first commercial collaboration between <b>PHG Energy</b> (PHGE) of Nashville and <b>GE Power &amp;</b> <b>Water</b> is online and generating electricity from waste materials at a new Covington, Tenn., facility. GE’s Clean Cycle generator, based on Rankine cycle technology, produces power from PHGE’s downdraft gasification system combined with a waste-mixing process. </p>
<p><b>PSEG Solar Source</b> completed its 19.3-MW DC PSEG Badger 1 solar farm located on approximately 172 acres west of Phoenix, Ariz. The project was developed and constructed by <b>juwi solar</b>. <b>Arizona Public Service </b> will purchase the output under a 30-year agreement. </p>
<p><b>Dominion Virginia Power</b> installed more than 2,000 solar panels on the rooftop of Canon Virginia Inc.’s (CVI) Industrial Resource Technologies facility in Gloucester, Va. When operational, the Gloucester facility will generate more than 500 kW for sale to Dominion Virginia Power. Construction started in December and startup is expected in early 2014.</p>
<h4>Metering</h4>
<p><b>Inland Power &amp; Light </b>(IPL) selected a <b>Tantalus-Itron</b> system to provide advanced metering and smart grid services for 39,000 members in IPL’s cooperative in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Itron Centron II meters will provide automated metering, interval meter data collection, prepay service, and power quality management. The project is a joint effort between Tantalus, Itron, and General Pacific. </p>
<h4>Transmission</h4>
<p><b>Entergy</b> completed integrating its transmission system into <b>MISO</b>, after the company canceled its planned transmission spinoff and merger with ITC. Entergy says its operating utilities – Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy Texas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy New Orleans – have been working for more than two years to plan and prepare for the transition. With the integration into MISO, Entergy’s transmission functions will now be managed by MISO, whose footprint now reaches from the Gulf of Mexico to Manitoba, Canada. In total, MISO now manages 65,280 miles of transmission with generation capacity totaling approximately 196,000 MW. In total, MISO’s footprint gained 10 transmission owning companies, six local balancing authorities, and 33 new market participants from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri.</p>
<p><b>Electric Transmission Texas</b> (ETT) energized the last of seven 345-kV transmission line projects associated with the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) initiative in west Texas. The Edith Clarke to Cottonwood transmission line was energized to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid on December 4. The 88.4-mile transmission line runs from the Crowell area in Foard County to the Afton area in Dickens County, and is the last of the seven greenfield 345-kV transmission projects assigned to ETT as part of the CREZ initiative. The overall CREZ initiative involves nine transmission service providers, including ETT, building 2,400 miles of transmission lines to carry 18,500 MW of wind generation to major load centers in ERCOT. </p>
<p><b>Xcel Energy </b>began work on a new substation in the town of Brunswick, Wisc. The substation will tie into an existing transmission line. Xcel Energy received all state regulatory approvals in early November, and construction work began in late November. The substation is scheduled to be in service by April 2014 and is estimated to cost $4 million.</p>
<p><b>PJM</b> approved a $1.2 billion 345-kV double-circuit transmission investment designed to resolve short-circuit concerns in northern New Jersey. The project, to be developed by <b>PSE&amp;G</b>, will enhance the reliability of the transmission infrastructure and allow for handling of increased load over the next several decades. The upgrades will span from the Linden to Bergen power plants and include upgrading ties to Newark Airport, the Hudson Power Station, and New York City connections. Construction is expected to be completed within 48 months.</p>
<h4>M&amp;A</h4>
<p><b>UNS Energy</b> approved a definitive merger agreement with <b>Fortis</b>, Canada’s largest investor-owned gas and electric distribution utility. Fortis expects to acquire all outstanding common stock of UNS Energy for $60.25 per share in cash. The $4.3 billion transaction includes the assumption of approximately $1.8 billion in debt, and would provide capital for UNS Energy’s subsidiaries, including <b>Tucson Electric Power</b> (TEP) and <b>UniSource Energy Services</b> (UES). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.</p>
<p><b>We Energies</b> and <b>Wolverine Power Cooperative</b> ended their joint venture at the Presque Isle coal-fired power plant in Marquette, Mich. The venture would have resulted in joint ownership of the plant, along with the installation of state-of-the-art emission controls. We Energies intends to enter a one-year contract with MISO for the output of the Presque Isle plant, while it evaluates long-term options for the plant, including the possibility of soliciting other potential buyers for some or all of the plant’s capacity. </p>
<p><b>UBS International Infrastructure Fund </b>(UBS)<b> </b>agreed to acquire a 50-percent equity interest from <b>EdF Renewable Energy </b>(EdF)<b> </b>in the 161-MW Spinning Spur II wind project in Oldham County, Texas, when construction is complete in July 2014. Construction began in June 2013 at the project, which will use 87 GE wind turbines with a capacity of 1.85 MW each. The project will use the new Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) transmission lines. </p>
<p><b>EdF Renewable Energy </b>acquired the 5.86-MW Lancaster solar project from<b> Urban Green Technologies (UGT)</b>,<b> </b>and began construction. The Town of Billerica, Mass., will purchase the plant’s output under a long-term agreement. EdF will develop, own, and operate the project with commercial operation expected in spring 2014. M+W U.S. is building the project under an EPC contract, with <b>Gehrlicher Solar America (GSAC) </b>as subcontractor. Terms of the sale weren’t disclosed.</p>
<p><b>Illinois Power Holdings</b> (IPH) completed its acquisition of <b>New Ameren</b> <b>Energy Resources</b> (AER). The transaction includes AER and its subsidiaries Ameren Energy Generating (Genco), New AERG (AERG), and Ameren Energy Marketing (AEM). The transaction includes the AEM retail and marketing businesses, doing business as Homefield Energy, and the following plants: Duck Creek, Coffeen, E.D. Edwards, Newton, and Joppa. </p>
<h4>Natural Gas</h4>
<p><b>Cheniere Energy</b> contracted <b>Bechtel </b>to build LNG trains and related facilities near Corpus Christi, Texas. The liquefaction project is expected to be built in stages, with LNG trains starting operations on a staggered basis. Bechtel is expected to begin work under the EPC contract in 2014, subject to project financial closing. The first LNG train is expected to begin operating in 2018.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/generation-markets">Generation &amp; Markets</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/td-grid">T&amp;D Grid</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2"><a href="/article-categories/finance">Finance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/digest">Digest</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/abb">ABB</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ikea">IKEA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/car-charging-group">Car Charging Group</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/blink-network">Blink Network</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/siemens">Siemens</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/energy">Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/panda-power">Panda Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wood-group-gts">Wood Group GTS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/irst-wind">irst Wind</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/burlington">Burlington</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sunedison">SunEdison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/inland-power-light">Inland Power &amp; Light</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tantalus">Tantalus</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itron">Itron</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/edf-renewable">EdF Renewable</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/renewable-energy-systems-canada">Renewable Energy Systems Canada</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/canadian-solar">Canadian Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ontario-power">Ontario Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/midamerican-energy">MidAmerican Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/phg-energy">PHG Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-power-water">GE Power &amp; Water</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pseg-solar-source">PSEG Solar Source</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/juwi-solar">Juwi Solar</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/arizona-public-service">Arizona Public Service</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dominion">Dominion</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/entergy">Entergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/miso">MISO</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-transmission-texas">Electric Transmission Texas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/xcel-energy">Xcel Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pjm">PJM</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/uns-energy">UNS Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/fortis">Fortis</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tucson-electric-power">Tucson Electric Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/unisource-energy-services">UniSource Energy Services</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/we-energies">WE Energies</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wolverine-power">Wolverine Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ubs-international-infrastructure">UBS International Infrastructure</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/urban-green-technologies">Urban Green Technologies</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ugt">UGT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gehrlicher-solar-america">Gehrlicher Solar America</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gsac">GSAC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/illinois-power-holdings">Illinois Power Holdings</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/new-ameren-energy-resources">New Ameren Energy Resources</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cheniere-energy">Cheniere Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bechtel">Bechtel</a> </div>
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Wed, 29 Jan 2014 03:09:52 +0000meacott17017 at http://www.fortnightly.comPHG Energy and General Electric Provide Renewable Power to West Tennessee Cityhttp://www.fortnightly.com/phg-energy-and-general-electric-provide-renewable-power-west-tennessee-city
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The first commercial collaboration between <strong>PHG Energy</strong> (PHGE) of Nashville and <strong>GE Power &amp;</strong> <strong>Water</strong> business of General Electric is officially online and creating electricity from waste materials at a new Covington, Tenn., facility. GE’s Clean Cycle generator, based on the organic rankine cycle (ORC) technology, produces power by utilizing heat delivered through PHGE’s downdraft gasification system and waste-mixing process. The two companies successfully proved the coupling of the technologies in an extensive research and development project that resulted in the first collaboration. Now the system is deployed and functions using the city’s wood waste and sewer sludge. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<div class="field-items">
<a href="/tags/phg-energy">PHG Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-power-water">GE Power &amp; Water</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tennessee">Tennessee</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/clean-cycle-generator">clean cycle generator</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/organic-rankine-cycle-technology">organic rankine cycle technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/gasification">Gasification</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/waste-mixing">waste-mixing</a> </div>
</div>
<div class="field field-name-field-news-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/news-categories/renewable-energy-news">Renewable Energy News</a></li></ul></div>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 18:26:45 +0000aburr16985 at http://www.fortnightly.comVendor Neutralhttp://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2012/09/vendor-neutral
<div class="field field-name-field-import-category field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Vendor Neutral</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-volume field-type-node-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Magazine Volume:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Fortnightly Magazine - September 2012</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-import-image field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1209-VEN-VirginaCity.jpg" width="1500" height="758" alt="Dominion Virginia Power started up the 585-MW Virginia City circulating fluidized bed power plant in July." title="Dominion Virginia Power started up the 585-MW Virginia City circulating fluidized bed power plant in July." /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1209-VEN-SanOnofre.jpg" width="678" height="484" alt="The latest inspection report from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicates steam generator tube wear at the San Onofre nuclear plant was caused by excessive vibration under certain circumstances." title="The latest inspection report from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicates steam generator tube wear at the San Onofre nuclear plant was caused by excessive vibration under certain circumstances." /></div><div class="field-item even"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1209-VEN-Hugo.jpg" width="1500" height="998" alt="ITC Great Plains commissioned the Hugo-Valliant HVDC transmission line and substation project in Oklahoma." title="ITC Great Plains commissioned the Hugo-Valliant HVDC transmission line and substation project in Oklahoma." /></div><div class="field-item odd"><img src="http://www.fortnightly.com/sites/default/files/1209-VEN-Nissan.jpg" width="757" height="324" alt="The first three wireless EV charging systems were installed on Nissan LEAFs as part of the Plugless Power program. The systems use electromagnetic induction to charge EV batteries without driver interaction." title="The first three wireless EV charging systems were installed on Nissan LEAFs as part of the Plugless Power program. The systems use electromagnetic induction to charge EV batteries without driver interaction." /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h4>Generation</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Panda Energy</span> awarded a $300 million turnkey contract to <span class="boldred">Siemens</span> and <span class="boldred">Bechtel Power</span> to supply the Panda Temple power project, a 758-MW gas-fired, combined-cycle facility in Temple, Texas. The order includes a long-term service agreement. Siemens will deliver the Siemens Flex-Plant 30 power island, including two gas turbines, one steam turbine, three generators, and instrumentation and control systems. Bechtel will be responsible for balance-of-plant engineering and procurement as well as facility installation, construction, and commissioning. Startup is scheduled for 2014.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Dominion Virginia Power</span> placed the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in southwest Virginia into commercial operation in July, on budget and on schedule following four years of construction. The $1.8-billion circulating fluidized bed (CFB) project uses coal, waste coal, and biomass to generate 585 MW. Dominion says the plant is among the cleanest U.S. coal-fired power generators, with one of the nation’s strictest air permits.</p>
<p>Corrections officials dedicated a landfill gas-fired cogeneration plant installed by <span class="boldred">Johnson Controls</span> at the <span class="boldred">State Correctional Institution at Laurel</span><span class="boldred">Highlands</span>. The Pennsylvania facility burns gas from the nearby Mostoller landfill to eliminate the prison’s need to use coal-fired boilers. Excess electricity produced by the plant is sold into the power grid. In addition to the cogeneration plant, Johnson Controls implemented a number of facility upgrades to optimize energy and water use, including roofing, lighting, windows, plumbing, and hot water tank upgrades.</p>
<p>The <span class="boldred">City of Covington,</span> Tenn., contracted <span class="boldred">PHG Energy</span> to install biomass gasification equipment and technology for a $2.25 million waste-to-energy system using a range of waste fuels. The biomass gasification system will be built adjacent to Covington’s wastewater treatment plant, converting approximately 12 tons of waste per day—primarily woody biomass—into energy. Biosolids from the treatment plant also are being investigated as a possible fuel source. PHG’s technology uses downdraft gasification technology with thermal oxidation equipment and a 125-kW organic Rankine cycle generator to produce electric power. PGH Energy says emissions from the system will be comparable to the use of natural gas.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Southern California Edison </span>(SCE) received the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Augmented Inspection Team report regarding the unusual degradation of steam generator tubes in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Units 2 and 3. The report says the tube-to-tube contact arises from excessive vibration of the tubes in certain areas of the steam generators, resulting from a combination of factors, including steam velocity, moisture content of the steam, and effectiveness of support structures. The report notes that SCE plant operators responded in a manner that protected public health and safety, and that the commission’s onsite inspectors observed conservative decision-making and the appropriate questioning attitude displayed by the operators during the event. SCE continues to work on its response to the commission’s confirmatory action letter, the formal step in the process of restarting Units 2 and 3. Both SONGS units are currently shut down for inspections, analysis and testing.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Ocean Power Technologies </span>(OPT) and <span class="boldred">Lockheed Martin</span> agreed to jointly develop a 19-MW wave-energy project off the coast of Portland in Victoria, Australia. This is one of the largest wave-energy projects announced to date, and will be financed in part with a US$65.3 million grant from the Commonwealth of Australia. For the project, Lockheed Martin will assist with OPT PowerBuoy project design and system integration, and will support overall project management. In addition to the grant from the Commonwealth of Australia’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, the partners are assessing financing opportunities and pursuing power purchase agreements with local utilities and industrial customers. Lockheed Martin and OPT began collaborating in 2004, first on the development of an advanced system for the U.S. Navy, and most recently to design and launch utility-scale wave energy converters off the coast of Reedsport, Ore.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas</span> signed a deal to maintain and service the turbines at five U.S. wind farms owned by <span class="boldred">Infigen</span> of Australia. The agreements cover 564 1-MW turbines across wind farms in four states. Mitsubishi will provide extended warranties, turbine maintenance services, and replacement components for the turbines until March 30, 2017, superseding original equipment manufacturers’ warranties for some of the turbines. Mitsubishi will be responsible for all turbine maintenance costs, including labor and component replacements for a fixed cost per turbine, subject to liability caps. Mitsubishi also is providing turbine availability guarantees backed by liquidated damages provisions, with performance payments if turbine availability exceeds prescribed levels.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Bechtel Power </span>awarded a contract to <span class="boldred">Unirac</span> to supply the ground mount system for the 110-MW Catalina photovoltaic (PV) project in Kern County, Calif. The project is expected to be one of the largest PV ground mount installations in North America, covering 1,100 acres. Completion is scheduled for 2013.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Candu Energy</span> signed an agreement with <span class="boldred">Enertech</span> to jointly provide passive autocatalytic recombiner (PAR) technology to the nuclear industry in the United States and select international markets. Enertech will focus on sales and marketing of PARs offered by Candu for use inside the containment buildings of nuclear power plants and other facilities where hydrogen gas can collect and create an explosive atmosphere. PARs activate without the need for external power or operator action, preventing hydrogen buildup. </p>
<p><span class="boldred">FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company </span>(FENOC) completed construction of the emergency operations facility for its Perry nuclear power plant. The new 12,000-square-foot facility supports overall management of activities related to maintaining public health and safety during a plant emergency. The facility also will be used during quarterly training drills and bi-annual exercises evaluated by the NRC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Features include: enhanced environmental data monitoring and collection technologies; an online database for sharing plant conditions and other event information in real time between emergency responders; and updated computer equipment and telecommunications technology. Multiple power supplies ensure the facility won’t be affected by a power failure. Located in Concord, Ohio, the facility replaces an existing emergency operations facility located on site at the Perry plant.</p>
<h4>Transactions</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Southern Company</span> and <span class="boldred">Turner Renewable Energy</span> acquired from SunEdison a 20-MW PV power plant on a 154-acre site in the City of North Las Vegas, Nev. SunEdison will be responsible for ongoing operations and maintenance. Construction of the solar array began in October 2011 and startup is expected during the third quarter of 2012. The project will consist of approximately 88,000 polycrystalline solar modules provided by Trina Solar. Nevada Power will buy the output under a 25-year agreement.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Algonquin Power</span> paid $29.7 million to acquire an interest in the Sandy Ridge (Penn.) wind farm, the first of four projects comprising a 480-MW wind portfolio under construction by Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica, S.A. in the United States. Sandy Ridge, which achieved commercial operation in February 2012, is comprised of 25 Gamesa G9X-2.0 MW wind turbines and has a 10-year power sales contract with J.P. Morgan Ventures. Gamesa will provide operations, warranty, and maintenance services for the wind turbines and balance-of-plant facilities under a 20-year contract. Algonquin says it will fund the acquisition with approximately 40 percent debt and 60 percent equity.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Algonquin</span> subsidiary <span class="boldred">Liberty Utilities</span> completed its $285 million acquisition of National Grid’s natural gas and electric distribution businesses in New Hampshire. The final state and federal regulatory approvals needed to complete the transaction were granted this past May. The sale was originally announced in December 2010.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Consolidated Edison Development</span> (CED) acquired two PV projects totaling 70 MW from GCL Solar Energy, a subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings. The projects in California’s Central Valley are scheduled to begin commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2012. CED will own and operate the projects and sell power and renewable energy certificates to Pacific Gas &amp; Electric under 25-year power purchase agreements.</p>
<h4>Smart Grid</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Grid Net</span> added new features to its software to support public cellular and other smart grid network communications systems. The Grid Net Platform v2.7—a centrally managed, distributed smart grid network operating system—now supports more point-to-point public and private broadband networks, including 4G WiMAX, 4G LTE, Ethernet over fiber, and 3G UMTS, and EVDO CDMA. The software features an application framework for machine-to-machine network optimization, content distribution optimization and control, off-peak network utilization, differential state synchronization, and configurable connectivity.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Survalent Technology</span> commissioned a new SCADA system at <span class="boldred">Paulding Putnam Electric</span><span class="boldred">Cooperative </span>(PPEC) in northwestern Ohio and Indiana. The SCADA system is equipped with several of Survalent’s applications.</p>
<h4>Transmission</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">ITC Great Plains</span>, in conjunction with <span class="boldred">Western Farmers Electric Cooperative </span>(WFEC), commissioned its Hugo-Valliant high-voltage electric transmission line and substation project in southeastern Oklahoma. The 18-mile, 345-kV line and substation is expected to reduce system congestion, provide more efficient and cost-effective transmission of energy, and increase access to a broader range of generation resources. The substation, near WFEC’s Hugo power plant, provides a link to the WFEC 138-kV transmission system.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">ABB</span> successfully developed and tested a 1,100-kV ultra high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) converter transformer, which the company says broke the record for the highest DC voltage levels ever. The technology is intended to allow efficient transmission of larger amounts of power over longer distances—namely, more than 10,000 MW of power across distances as long as 3,000 km. These figures compare with ABB’s largest commercial UHVDC system, the 800-kV Xiangjiaba-Shanghai link, with a capacity of 6,400 MW and extending just over 2,000 km.</p>
<p>The<span class="boldred"> New Mexico Public Regulation Commission</span> approved a $60 million <span class="boldred">Xcel Energy</span> plan for Clovis-area transmission upgrades to improve reliability in the region—which is also the site for the planned $1.5 billion landmark Tres Amigas project. If completed, Tres Amigas would tie together the Eastern, Western, and ERCOT grids for the first time. The Xcel plan involves the construction of the new Pleasant Hill substation northeast of Clovis and two new 230-kV transmission lines that will connect Pleasant Hill with the existing Roosevelt County and Oasis substations, which also are targeted for capacity upgrades. The improvements were among a group of capacity projects identified by the Southwest Power Pool in a 2009 reliability study.</p>
<h4>Metering</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">CoServ Electric</span>, an electric cooperative in Texas, selected the <span class="boldred">Ecologic Analytics</span> meter data management (MDM) system for its advanced metering and distribution technology initiative. CoServ chose Ecologic Analytics MDM to integrate with its Landis+Gyr metering systems and back-office systems.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Prairie Land Electric Cooperative</span> engaged <span class="boldred">KamTech Systems</span> and <span class="boldred">Clevest Solutions</span> to support its project to replace 16,000 mechanical meters and upgrade 9,000 electronic meters in northern Kansas with new Landis+Gyr units. Meter technicians use handheld devices throughout the day to complete orders, and at the end of the day information is synchronized with the Clevest system and then updated in Prairie Land’s customer information system. </p>
<p><span class="boldred">Cedar Falls Utilities</span> selected <span class="boldred">Tantalus</span> as the technology platform to support the utility’s existing fiber-to-the-home and wireless broadband networks. Cedar Falls chose Tantalus to implement an initial deployment of advanced metering infrastructure using Itron meters. The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities contributed to the project with funds from a U.S. DOE grant.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Concho Valley Electric Cooperative</span> installed the FlexNet utility communications network from <span class="boldred">Sensus</span> as part of a distribution system upgrade in a 10-county territory surrounding San Angelo, Texas. The FlexNet long-range radio system communicates via dedicated, primary-use, FCC-protected spectrum. Full deployment started in August and will be completed by late fall 2012. The project calls for installation of 13,000 Sensus iCON electric meters, mostly in residential applications. Fourteen base stations and antennas will create a network canopy covering more than 4,000 square miles of mainly rural terrain.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Nebraska City Utilities</span> selected <span class="boldred">Elster’s</span> Q Sonic Plus meters for its natural gas transmission main extension to areas south and west of Nebraska City and a service line to an Omaha Public Power District power plant. The Q Sonic Plus meters provide comprehensive measurement of gas flow, with the capability to operate in both upstream and downstream environments.</p>
<h4>EVs &amp; Storage</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">Evatran</span> completed the first three installations of its Plugless Power wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging technology with Apollo Launch partners—including the Hertz Corp., Duke Energy, and the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. Evatran says the installations on Nissan LEAF vehicles are the first passenger EVs in the world with full wireless charging capability. The Plugless Power partners are testing wireless charging technology on their Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF vehicles, in a variety of applications. The Plugless Power technology is based on electromagnetic induction with Evatran control software and coil designs to extend efficient power transfer over an air gap of as much as seven inches. The prototypes charge the vehicles without user interaction as quickly as traditional corded chargers, and function at over 90-percent efficiency, according to Evatran.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">IEEE</span> launched the IEEE Transportation Electrification Web Portal at <a href="http://electricvehicle.ieee.org">http://electricvehicle.ieee.org</a> as part of its newly formed IEEE Transportation Electrification (TE) initiative, created to accelerate development and implementation of new technologies and innovations in electrified transportation. The web portal provides information on a cross-section of topics, including the latest advancements related to electrified transportation for air, land, and water.</p>
<h4>People</h4>
<p>The supervisory board of <span class="boldred">DNV KEMA Energy &amp; Sustainability</span> appointed <span class="boldred">Nina Skorupska</span> as a member. Skorupska is CTO and an executive board member at Dutch utility Essent.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">American Utility Management</span> (AUM) appointed <span class="boldred">Joseph R. Stackhouse</span> COO. Previously Stackhouse was a senior v.p., customer operations at Charter Communications.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Utility Integration Solutions </span>(UISOL) hired smart energy expert <span class="boldred">Mehrdod Mohseni</span> as a senior v.p. Mohseni was chief marketing officer at GE Digital Energy.</p>
<h4>Energy Services</h4>
<p><span class="boldred">ConEdison Solutions </span>(CES) launched an information tool to help the company’s partners serve their commercial and industrial end users. The web portal, called e-channel, provides an environment for CES partners to view and analyze energy and customer portfolio data, helping to identify emerging opportunities for cost savings and other energy-related trends.</p>
<p><span class="boldred">Lime Energy</span> completed the <span class="boldred">Allegheny County Energy Program for Municipalities</span>, a retrofit effort with more than 16,000 energy conservation measures, including lighting retrofits, automatic control installations, domestic water upgrades, hot water tank retrofits and building envelope—weatherization—enhancements. Improvements were made at 75 municipality-owned facilities, which Lime Energy says will save the county about 2.3 million kW hours of electricity and 30,000 gallons of water annually, reducing its utility bills by more than $300,000 per year. The project was funded in part by a $2 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE), and a $400,000 grant from the R.K. Mellon Foundation.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Category (Actual): </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/article-categories/generation-markets">Generation &amp; Markets</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/article-categories/td-grid">T&amp;D Grid</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2"><a href="/article-categories/finance">Finance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-members-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Viewable to All?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-featured field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Featured?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Department: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/department/vendor-neutral">Vendor Neutral</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-fortnightly-40 field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Fortnightly 40?:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-law-lawyers field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Is Law &amp; Lawyers:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
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<a href="/tags/gas-fired-combined-cycle">Gas-fired combined-cycle</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/landfill-gas">landfill gas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cogeneration">cogeneration</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/photovoltaics">Photovoltaics</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/pv">PV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wind-power">Wind power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wind-turbine">wind turbine</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-distribution">electric distribution</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/biomass-gasification">biomass gasification</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nuclear-power">Nuclear power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/songs">SONGS</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/san-onofre-nuclear-generating-station">San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wave-energy">wave energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/scada">SCADA</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/smart-grid">Smart grid</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-transmission">Electric Transmission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hvdc">HVDC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/uhvdc">UHVDC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/high-voltage-direct-current-0">high voltage direct current</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ultra-high-voltage-direct-current">ultra high voltage direct current</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tres-amigas">Tres Amigas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/web-portal">web portal</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/metering">metering</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/advanced-metering-infrastructure">Advanced metering infrastructure</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/smart-meters">Smart meters</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/electric-vehicle">Electric vehicle</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ev">EV</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/panda-energy">Panda Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/siemens">Siemens</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bechtel">Bechtel</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/dominion">Dominion</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/johnson-controls">Johnson Controls</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/laurel-highlands">Laurel Highlands</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/city-covington">City of Covington</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/phg-energy">PHG Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-company">Southern Company</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/turner-renewable-energy">Turner Renewable Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sunedison">SunEdison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/algonquin-power">Algonquin Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/liberty-utilities">Liberty Utilities</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/consolidated-edison">Consolidated Edison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ced">CED</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/southern-california-edison">Southern California Edison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sce">SCE</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nuclear-regulatory-commission">Nuclear Regulatory Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nrc">NRC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ocean-power-technologies">Ocean Power Technologies</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/opt">OPT</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lockheed-martin">Lockheed Martin</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/bechtel-power">Bechtel Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/unirac">Unirac</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/candu-energy">Candu Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/enertech">Enertech</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/grid-net">Grid Net</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/survalent-technology">Survalent Technology</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/paulding-putnam">Paulding Putnam</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mitsubishi-power-systems-americas">Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/infigen">Infigen</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/firstenergy">FirstEnergy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/fenoc">FENOC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/federall-emergency-management-agency">Federall Emergency Management Agency</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/itc-great-plains">ITC Great Plains</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/western-farmers">Western Farmers</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/wfec">WFEC</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/abb">ABB</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/new-mexico-public-regulation-commission">New Mexico Public Regulation Commission</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/xcel">Xcel</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/coserv-electric">CoServ Electric</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ecologic-analytics">Ecologic Analytics</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/meter-data-management">meter data management</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mdm">MDM</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/prairie-land">Prairie Land</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/kamtech-systems">KamTech Systems</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/clevest-solutions">Clevest Solutions</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/cedar-falls">Cedar Falls</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/tantallus">Tantallus</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/concho-valley">Concho Valley</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/sensus">Sensus</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/nebraska-city">Nebraska City</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/elster">Elster</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/evatran">Evatran</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/plugless-power">Plugless Power</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/apollo-launch">Apollo Launch</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/hertz">Hertz</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/duke">Duke</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a 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Stackhouse</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/utility-integration-solutions">Utility Integration Solutions</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/uisol">UISOL</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/mehrdod-mohseni">Mehrdod Mohseni</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ge-digital">GE Digital</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/conedison">ConEdison</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/ces">CES</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/lime-energy">Lime Energy</a><span class="pur_comma">, </span><a href="/tags/allegheny-county">Allegheny County</a> </div>
</div>
Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:18:38 +0000puradmin14765 at http://www.fortnightly.com